Measuring-tape



Sept. 26, 1961 QUENOT 3,001,738

MEASURING-TAPE Filed Aug. 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

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Filed Aug. 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5- 3 A Fi .4.

8 $11M 19M M m United States Patent France Filed Aug. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 757,376 2 Claims. (Cl. 242-843) This invention" relates to measuring-tapes and has specific reference to a measuring-tape characterized by the following features taken separately or in combination:

The crank-handle for winding the graduated tape on the winding drum comprises means whereby said crankhandle may be connected or disconnected at will relative to said drum.

Other means are provided for preventing at will the rotation of the drum in the unwinding direction.

These first means may consist for example in hingediy mounting the crank-handle arm on a yoke mounted in turn for loose rotation on the shaft of the tape-winding drum, and comprises a slot adapted to engage a screwdriver-like flattened portion of the corresponding end of the drum shaft. The crank-handle is collapsible and in its inoperative position it is folded by 180 degrees, its handle-forming portion engaging a cavity provided to this end in the gripping handle of the measuring-tape assembly and being locked therein. A spring blade or strip disposed beneath the hinged mounting of the crankhandle on the aforesaid yoke urges this crank-handle in either of its end positions.

The other means whereby the winding drum may be locked at will may consist for example of a sliding member comprising a lug extending at right-angles thereto and adapted, in one position, to prevent the drum from rotating in the tape-unwinding direction by engaging an eccentric pin carried by said drum, said pin acting at the same time as a means for anchoring the inner end of the tape. When the drum rotates in the tape-winding direction, the aforesaid pin, by hearing against the inner portion of said lug extension of the sliding member, tends to restore this member to its unlocking position. When the sliding member is in this position, the tape-anchoring pin may pass clear of and beneath this lug and the winding drum may thus rotate freely.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of this invention and of the manner in which the same may be carried out in the practice, reference will now be made to the attached drawings forming part of this specification and illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a lateral elevational view of the measuring-tape.

FIGURE 2 is a lateral elevational view but showing the other side of the device.

FIGURE 3 is a front view with a fragmentary section taken upon the line IIIIII of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the drum locking member in its released position, and

FIGURE 5 is a section taken FIG. 4.

Secured on the handle 1 of the measuring-tape assembly are a pair of side plates 2 the free ends of which are held in proper spaced relationship by shouldered studs 3 acting at the same time as pivot pins to a pair of tape guiding rollers 4a and 4b.

A drum 5 comprises a shaft 6 having a flat, diametrically extending tenon or screwdriver-like end portion 7, the drum disc carrying on the other hand an eccentric transverse pin 9 on which the inner end of a graduated tape 10 constituting the measuring tape proper is anupon the line VV of Patented Sept. 26, 1961 chored; the other end of this tape passes between the rollers 4a and 4b and terminates with a ring of a size suflicient to prevent its passage between the side plates 2.

A crank-handle 11 hingedly mounted on a yoke 12 mounted in turn for loose rotation on the drum shaft 6 is formed with a slot 13 adapted to engage the flat axially projecting end portion 7 of the drum shaft 6 to connect the drum 5 rotatably with the crank-handle; and an arched leaf spring or strip 14 underlying the pivotal mounting of the crank-handle 11 and urging the latter either in its released position or in its drum-engaging position.

The crank-handle 11 is collapsible and may be folded back so that its handle-forming portion 8 will engage an aperture 21 provided to this end in the gripping handle 1 of the apparatus.

A slidinglocking member 15 adapted to slide on one of the side plates 2 comprises at one end a suitably knurled or otherwise roughened thumb-piece 17 and at the other end a lug extension 16 bent in a plane parallel to the drum axis and adapted to be engaged by the tapeanchoring pin 9 of drum 5 in the drum-locking position, thereby preventing the drum from rotating in the tapeunwinding direction as shown in FIG. 2. When the sliding member 15 is in its drum-releasing position, the pin 9 may pass under and clear of the bent lug 16 and thus the drum 5 may rotate freely.

Assuming the sliding member 15 to be in the drumlocking position, when the drum 5 rotates in the tapewinding direction the anchoring pin 9 will bear against the lower portion of the bent lug 16 and exert a pressure thereon to restore the sliding member to its unlocking position. The sliding member 15 is formed with two notches or cavities 18 co-acting with a boss or like projec tion 19 formed in a leaf spring 20 to releasably retain this member in either of its two positions.

A friction spring 23 (FIG. 3) co-axial with the drum 5 presses against one side of the drum 5 and prevents the latter from rotating when it is not driven by the crank-handle 11,

To facilitate the handling of the apparatus, the gripping handle 1 is formed preferably with four finger-notches 24 adapted to receive the fingers of the users hand, and a rib 25 on which his thumb may rest.

Of course, the form of embodiment of the invention which is described by Way of example hereinabove with reference to the attached drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention as many modifications may be brought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A measuring apparatus comprising a gripping handle, a pair of parallel side plates rigid therewith, a drum having a spindle rotatably mounted between said side plates, a graduated tape wound on said drum, a flat diametrically extending tenon formed at one end of said drum spindle, a radial yoke mounted for loose rotation on said spindle, a transverse hinge pin carried by the outer end of said yoke and spaced laterally from the drum axis, an elongated crank for winding and unwinding said graduated tape on said drum, said crank being hingedly mounted on said transverse hinge pin and having an elongated slot formed in its arm, said slot being so positioned for engagement by said tenon in the operative position of said crank, said crank being selectively adapted to occupy either of two positions namely, an operative position in which said slot receives said tenon therein and is rotationally connected with said drum, and an inoperative position in which said crank is folded along said gripping handle and said slot is removed from said tenon whereby said crank is disconnected from said drum, an eccentric transverse pin secured on said drum and adapted to have anchored thereon the inner end of thereto but eccentric on the side where the Winding is effected in the direction of the gripping handle, said sliding locking member being adapted to occupy selectively either an operative position and an inoperative position, said sliding member having a portion extending perpendicularly thereto, Which is adapted to be engaged by said eccentric, transverse pin to prevent the rotation of said drum in the tape unwinding direction when said sliding member is in its operative position, said eccentric transverse pin being adapted to cause said sliding member to move to its inoperative position when said drum rotates in the tape Winding direction.

2. A measuring apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sliding locking member is provided, at its end opposite to that carrying said extension in the direction of said gripping handle, with a thumb-piece so dis- 4 posed that the operator may actuate the same with his thumb for causing said sliding locking member to move selectively between its operative position and its inoperative position While holding the apparatus by its gripping handle with the other fingers of the same hand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

